2026 August Newsletter
Updated: Aug 27
It's been an enormous month at Westside, and we wanted to make sure you're across everything that's changed, what's coming, and a few reminders to help things keep running smoothly for everyone!
It's Been a Huge Month
We've welcomed new coaches onto the floor, watched a wave of new skills click into place across every class, and finished the upgrade to our upstairs viewing area - it's heated & cooled, with laptop benches and, heading into 2027, soon to have a TV with live stream of the gym floor (so you'll be able to watch from the chairs rather than craning your neck through the window!)
There's also a fair bit happening behind the scenes that you won't see yet but will feel the benefit of: more equipment on the way, formalised training and support systems for our coaching team, and general reinvestment back into the club - all building toward a bigger 2027. More on that as it takes shape.
Introducing Our Vision & Values
We've spent some time this year putting into words what we've always believed, and we're excited to officially share it with you. Our vision is Raising the West through Gymnastics. We believe gymnastics is one of the best tools ever invented for raising kids; not just training them as gymnasts, but raising them as people.
That vision is backed by five Core Values that guide everything we do:
Safety is Never a Shortcut - Protect first. Raise second.
We Teach the Whole Kid - We're raising people, not just gymnasts.
Progress Beats Perfection - Wobbly is fine. Wobbly is how we start.
Fun is the Point - If it's not fun, we're not doing it right.
We're Building Something Together - It takes a village. The West raises its own.
You can read the full story behind each one on our website.
Important Dates
Term 3 runs through to Saturday 19th September
Our usual break week runs 21st–27th September before Term 4 begins
Term 4 runs 28th September to 20th December (no classes Tuesday 3rd November - public holiday)
Billing: fees are charged by direct debit on the first day of each month - you can always preview the month ahead's charges from the 15th of the month prior
The full calendar is always up to date on our Important Dates page
Spring Holiday Program
Our popular holiday program is back these spring holidays.
Running during the second week of the break, we've got PlayGym, OpenGym and Skill Workshops planned, so make sure you secure your spot - you won't want to miss this one!
Check out our website here for the full schedule and more information
A Few Housekeeping Reminders
Parking - Street parking on Carrington Drive is available on the western side only (opposite the gym). Please avoid parking across neighbouring driveways or car parks - a few nearby businesses have flagged this, and we'd like to stay good neighbours. Full details on our Contact page
Make-Up Tokens - Know you'll be away? Notify us via the Customer Portal at least 1 hour before your scheduled class to receive a make-up token - it's the easiest way to make sure nothing gets missed. QR codes around the gym (and our website) link to a step-by-step guide if you need one.
Heading away for longer? We offer a two-week suspension on enrolments to cover extended holidays, rather than losing your spot altogether. Full terms are in our Fee and Tuition policy
Keeping our space nice - A small one, but worth mentioning: we've noticed more food scraps and chairs left out of place in the waiting areas lately. We love having you all in there, but it does add a fair bit to our staff's workload after hours - we'd really appreciate everyone tidying up after themselves before heading off.
From the Blog
If you caught the Commonwealth Games gymnastics recently, we wrote a little something about what it taught us about raising confident kids (turns out it's not really about the medals). Give it a read here.
Thanks for being part of what we're building here. As always, reach out any time if you've got questions!
See you in the gym,
Toby & the Westside Team
